Marcus' Model Railway Journey

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22nd April, 2026

Heritage railway hosts exhibition of infrastructure plant​

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On-track plant exhibition at Chinnor Station


The Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway (C&PRR) recently hosted a special event that was different to the normal steam and diesel galas associated with heritage railways.

This event was a two-day infrastructure plant exhibition of equipment used throughout the wider rail industry for the maintenance of the railway network.

For two days, visitors from within the railway industry gathered around platform 4 at Chinnor station and in nearby sidings, to examine some of the latest plant and track-work support innovations for the railway industry.
 
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On-track plant exhibition at Princes Risborough


The exhibition, organised by the Central Rail Systems Alliance (CRSA), which is the infrastructure renewals contractor for Network Rail in the area, enabled the alliance and its suppliers to showcase their capabilities.

Road-rail plant, with both flanged wheels for use on railway lines, and road wheels or tracks, was delivered to the exhibition by road to a rural level crossing about a mile from Princes Risborough on the line between Chinnor and Princes Risborough, and then ran on the railway to Chinnor station.
 
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On-track plant exhibition at Chinnor Station


As well as new innovative equipment, some of the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway’s own, much older, rail plant was also on display.

This included a Class 08 diesel shunting locomotive, “dogfish” ballast hopper wagons that have doors in the base of the wagons to deliver ballast directly onto the track, a Great Western Railway (GWR) guard’s/brake van, and a British Rail era track relaying machine, fitted with a twin-jib rail-mounted crane.

Exhibition visitors were also invited to look around the 1904 signal box which is under restoration, and the fourth platform at Princes Risborough station, which Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway volunteers rebuilt in 2018.

“Staff” of the C&PRR, which is 100% operated and maintained by volunteers and is a registered charity, made use of the event to exchange ideas with railway professionals/

By the following weekend, the railway’s usual heritage steam and diesel services operated as normal, as all traces of the exhibition had, by then, been cleared away.
 
22nd April, 2026

Record-breaking model railway show at Bedfordshire railway​

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Leighton Buzzard narrow-gauge railway


The Leighton Buzzard Railway in Bedfordshire recorded another record-breaking event when it held a Model Railway Show last Sunday, 19th April, at Page’s Park.

The successful day saw 350 passengers travel on the trains, whilst another 150 people visited Page’s Park just to see the Model Railway Show; the visitor numbers were the largest the railway has experienced in recent years.

Many visitors made positive comments about the exhibition and the high standard of the exhibits, with the exhibition having seven smaller-scale layouts in the community room and three larger-scale layouts in the engine shed; two of the models were exhibited by members of the Leighton Buzzard Railway’s Junior Railway Club.

The larger-scale layouts included live steam models from the Eaton Bray 16mm group.

Each model had a unique feature, such as a forest scene or a movie set in California.

Several of the layouts had replica models of locomotives, carriages and wagons in use on the Leighton Buzzard Railway.

At Stonehenge Works, several working miniature steam engines were on display.

The railway’s next event is its ever-popular Teddy Bears’ Picnic during the early-May bank holiday weekend on Sunday, 3rd and Monday, 4th May.

At Stonehenge Works, there will be a Children’s Bear Hunt for younger visitors.

Children who bring Teddy Bears can travel on the railway for free throughout the weekend.

More information about the weekend is online at www.buzzrail.uk.

The Leighton Buzzard Railway opened its 2026 season on Mother’s Day, 15th March, whilst during the Easter weekend it played host to the largest Easter Bunny in Bedfordshire.
 
22nd April, 2026

Had a coin hunt today and found £2 for the collection.

Found another coin for the collection......

THE 350TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GUINEA​

The 2013 Anniversary of the Guinea £2 coin was issued by the Royal Mint to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the first Guinea coin, which was minted in 1663.

Key Features and Design
  • Reverse Design: Designed by Anthony Smith, it features a shield bearing the arms of King George III, famously known as the "Spade Guinea" due to its shape.
  • Edge Inscription: The edge is inscribed with the text: "WHAT IS A GUINEA? 'TIS A SPLENDID THING".
  • Obverse: Features the 4th portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley.
  • Composition: Bimetallic (copper-nickel centre in a nickel-brass ring).
Mintage and Rarity
  • Circulation Mintage: 2,990,000 coins dated 2013 were struck for circulation.
  • Collectability: While 2.99 million is not the lowest mintage for a £2 coin, it is popular among collectors.
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23rd April, 2026

First refurbished Lumo Class 222 revealed​

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The first refurbished Lumo Class 222 (222601)


Ahead of their launch into service this spring, Lumo has revealed the first refurbished train that will run on their new West Coast open-access rail service.

The interiors have been refurbished, with seating refreshed; some coaches feature entirely new seats in grey and silver tones.

The refurbishments are being carried out in partnership with Beacon at Alstom’s Widnes modernisation facility.
 
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The first refurbished interior Lumo Class 222 (222601)


The Class 222 trains will call at numerous stations, including London Euston, Crewe, Carlisle, Motherwell, and Stirling.

Additionally, tickets for the introduction of services are now on sale for travel from 9th June, with an example fare of £29.90 from London to Stirling.


“This is a real milestone as we prepare to launch our new West Coast service this spring. The refurbished trains are certainly eye-catching with our signature Lumo blue. I’m also proud of the updated interiors that are ready to provide the comfortable service that we’re renowned for.

“This is a project centred upon collaboration and I’d like to thank Alstom and Beacon for their continued hard work as we prepare to better connect communities on the West Coast.”

Stuart Jones, Managing Director of First Rail Open Access
 
23rd April, 2026

Bedfordshire improvement works progress across numerous stations​

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Harlington old bridge removal


Network Rail engineers have been busy completing improvement works across Bedfordshire.

Work was carried out to remove the footbridge at Harlington station as well as improve the overhead line equipment, after a new bridge was installed last year.

Improvements at Luton station have also been underway, with work beginning on the Access for All upgrades planned for the station.

The site has been excavated, and the ground has been prepared for construction work ahead of the installation of the accessible bridge.
 
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Work starts on Luton Access for All project


Additional upgrades have also been underway at Flitwick station, with track being renewed beside platform one, to ensure journeys remain reliable.

There are further planned upgrades across May and June, so passengers should check before they travel.


“This has been a highly productive period of work, with our teams delivering several important projects safely and on time.

“Removing the old footbridge at Harlington marks another milestone in a significant investment, the improvements at Flitwick are already making a positive difference for passengers, and the early work at Luton is a step to delivering major and lasting benefits for station visitors.

“We’d like to thank everyone involved for their hard work and professionalism, and we’re sorry to passengers whose journey was affected while the railway here was closed for two days.”

Dan Matthews, Network Rail operations director
 
23rd April, 2026

Tornado steam locomotive joins in the fun at East Lancs gala​

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60163 Tornado on the East Lancashire Railway


On the 10th to 12th April, the East Lancashire Railway held its third Legends of Steam gala.

It saw A1 60163 ‘Tornado’ return to the railway after its visit was postponed last year, and its appearance was replaced by B1 ‘Mayflower’.

Having previously appeared at the railway in its Apple Green livery, this year it appeared in a darker British Railway Brunswick Green livery with features on the front painted black for the very first time.

60163 also appeared alongside 34092 ‘City of Wells’, which also appeared having had the Bath Green Park treatment.

Both locomotives appeared alongside 34070 ‘Manston’ and resident 1881-built Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Saddle Tank 11456.

The services hauled by Tornado were a big hit during the event, with more opportunities available at their Summer Diesel Gala (2nd – 5th July).

Further information on ELR’s events can be found on their website.
 
23rd April, 2026

Landslip repairs begin at Gloucestershire steam railway​

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Dinmore manor departs from Toddington on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway


Earlier this year, an embankment failed near Bishops Cleeve on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway.

There has been a speed limit in place since the slip, and a revised timetable has been in place with repairs given the green light earlier this month.
 
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Landslip at Gotherington


The repairs are being carried out by local contractor R J Clarke Contractors, thanks to funding from the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Trust.

The contractors will install crushed stone at a shallow angle to strengthen the embankment and improve drainage.

The team at the railway believes the slip was caused by the hot summer last year, which led to the shrinkage of the clay soil.

The subsidence caused by the dry weather led to the ground cracking and becoming unstable.

This can then be further affected by a period of heavy rainfall, as the soil doesn’t have the capacity to absorb water after such a long period of being dry.
 
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Landslip repairs at Gotherington on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway


An altered timetable remains in place until 14th May (subject to change) while the repairs are carried out.

Further information on when trains are running can be found on their website.


“We noticed cracks forming along the top of the embankment in September, so we have been monitoring the area for potential movement since then. In January, we suffered prolonged and intense rainfall, which appears to have triggered a sudden failure which happened late in February.

“Fortunately, this happened on the vacant former Up (or Malvern) side of the embankment, away from the present track. It’s not far from a similar failure that happened three years ago. However, a civil engineering assessment concluded that it was safe for trains to pass, albeit at a 5mph speed restriction.” “This effort has already mitigated earthworks failures elsewhere on the line.

“However, we are dealing with assets that are well over a century old and whose builders had much less geo-technical understanding of earthworks construction. We understand that the clay dug out of the Greet Tunnel and cuttings along the route were used to construct the embankments. If such embankments were to be built today, their construction would be much different and with less steep angles to the sides, given the local geology.”

Sarah Clayton, the GWSR’s Infrastructure Manager
 
23rd April, 2026

Llangollen to Celebrate 30th Anniversary of Carrog Railway​

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Carrog Station is reopened in 1996


Langollen and Corwen Railway has announced it will honour the 30th anniversary of its reopening of Carrog Railway Station with a community celebration on Saturday, 2 May 2026.

The station was officially reopened on 2 May 1996 by the late Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster, alongside the then President of the railway, the late Bill Shakespeare.

Carrog Railway Station originally formed part of the Ruabon to Barmouth line, serving communities along the Dee Valley until December 1964, when services ceased following flood damage.

The station was reopened in 1996, as part of the preserved Llangollen Railway, initially serving as the line’s terminus.

Subsequent extensions have since repositioned it as an intermediate station and passing place.

Its proximity to a popular campsite has further reinforced its role as a visitor destination.
 
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Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster, performed the opening ceremony at Carrog Station


Events are scheduled to begin at 11:00 am at the station. Pupils from Ysgol Carrog will participate in a commemorative ceremony attended by locals, railway volunteers and visitors.

Their involvement reflects a direct link to the original reopening, when pupils from the school were also in attendance.


Residents of Carrog, Llidiart y Parc and surrounding areas have been invited to attend.

A screen presentation featuring archive photographs will document the station’s development, highlighting its historical role and the significance it continues to hold within the Dee Valley community.

To coincide with the anniversary, complimentary travel will be offered to local residents.

A free return service between Carrog and Corwen will depart Carrog at 11:38 am and return at 12:20 pm.

Tickets for this are to be requested via email (info@llangollen-railway.co.uk).


“As someone who lives in Carrog, I see first-hand just how important the station and railway are to the community. It is not only a vital part of our heritage, but also a key driver of tourism in the Dee Valley.

“The Llangollen Railway brings visitors from across the UK and beyond, supporting local businesses and helping to showcase everything that makes this area special. Celebrating 30 years since the station’s reopening is a proud moment for Carrog and a chance to look ahead to a strong future for both the railway and our local economy.”

Ian Lebbon, Chair of the Denbighshire Destination Tourism Partnership, a Director of the Llangollen and Corwen Railway.


“Carrog Station is incredibly important to the railway, both operationally and as part of the community we serve. While many people know it for transforming into a magical Lapland setting during our Santa Specials and Sion Corn trains, it is also a vital station for the communities of Carrog and Llidiart y Parc.

“This anniversary is a chance to celebrate not just 30 years since reopening, but the role the station continues to play in connecting people, preserving our heritage, and bringing visitors into the Dee Valley. We would encourage people from Carrog, Llidiart y Parc and beyond to come along and join us on the day.”

Bob Creasey, Chairman of the Llangollen Railway Trust.
 
23rd April, 2026

Staffordshire railway releases update after steam train derailment​

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S160 5197 on the Churnet Valley Railway


The Churnet Valley Railway has released an update after a train derailed last weekend.

A locomotive and coach, which were on a non-passenger-carrying movement, derailed near Cheddleton on Saturday 18th April.

The railway has thanked its staff for the efforts to rerail the derailed vehicles.

The investigation has found that the derailment was not caused by any single factor and has been a result of a combination of circumstances, and the Churnet Valley Railway say that there is no single point of failure that can be attributed to the derailment.


Train repairs have now been completed, with inspections being completed to support the safe resumption of services.

The locomotive involved has, according to the railway, travelled over the section of track a number of times previously and neither vehicle has been attributed to the incident.

A charter is expected to run on Saturday (25th April) before public services run on Sunday 26th April and beyond.

The Churnet Valley Railway’s full statement is as follows…

Following the derailment on Saturday 18 April, the safety of our passengers, staff and volunteers remains our absolute priority. We would like to take this opportunity to recognise and sincerely thank our voluntary and paid staff for the tremendous effort, dedication and many hours they have contributed in response to this incident. Their professionalism and commitment, working alongside partner agencies, has been instrumental in supporting both the investigation and the safe recovery of the vehicles involved. We are also grateful for the support received from across the heritage railway sector and the wider rail industry, including specialist re-railing teams whose prompt and effective response drew on extensive experience of recovery operations. We further extend our thanks to our industry partners and insurers for their continued support and technical input throughout.

The investigation has confirmed that this incident was not caused by any single factor. Instead, it resulted from a combination of multiple, minor and otherwise manageable elements aligning in a particular set of circumstances. This type of occurrence, sometimes described as the “Swiss cheese model”, is recognised across safety-critical industries. No individual issue has been identified that, in isolation, would have led to a derailment, and there is no single point of failure to attribute.

Track repairs resulting from the derailment have been completed, with final measurements and inspections being undertaken to support the safe resumption of services.

The locomotive involved had operated successfully over the same section of railway on numerous occasions during testing and commissioning. The findings of the investigation do not point to any single vehicle, infrastructure or operational factor, and there is no evidence to suggest that this incident was attributable to any one particular element of the train.
The railway will reopen for private charter services on Saturday, with a full return to public services on Sunday, following completion of all final checks and preparations.

We would like to extend our sincere apologies to all customers affected by this disruption. We appreciate your understanding that it is essential to fully investigate and address any incident before reopening, and we thank you for your continued support.
 
23rd April, 2026

Students from NMITE welcomed by Severn Valley Railway for experience day​

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Students from NMITE in Hereford on their visit to the Severn Valley Railway


Seventeen final-year engineering students from the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) in Hereford visited the Severn Valley Railway (SVR) on 21 April, gaining first-hand insight into the technology, infrastructure and workforce behind a leading UK heritage railway.

The visit supports Technology and Engineering’s applied engineering curriculum, giving students a hands-on experience at a functioning and popular working heritage railway.

The integrated master’s cohort met Severn Valley Railway’s personnel and toured operational areas, including the carriage and wagon works at Kidderminster and the traction maintenance depot.

The group also got to get an up close experience with heritage diesel locomotive Class 50 No. 50049 ‘Defiance’.
 
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